X Spline Tablesaw Jig

I got this crazy idea about putting a stitch pattern of splines in the corner of a piece and started with making one X spline at a time. I first measured an X to find the angles and them made this jig to cut this 60 degree X pattern spline and also a 90 degree straight pattern spline. If I take the V block off, the sled can be used for a variety of things.

I have a Ryobi BT3000 table saw and it has no miter slots so I made the sled to slide along both sides of the center section of the saw.

I started by making the moveable V block with 3/4” maple plywood. I just glued two 9” long piece together …one 4” wide and the other 4 3/4” wide. Then I ran it through the table saw and cut a 45 degree on the bottom. I glued up another two pieces of plywood and then cut them at 45 degrees to make the side gussets. After I routed the gussets to be parallel to the V and the ends to be perpendicular to the V, I used my tenon jig for the router table to cut 1/2” deep rabbets into both ends of the V block and glued on some plywood into which I installed the brass locator rings.

After the V block was built, I figured out the what was needed for a sled so that the V block could swing 30 degrees both sides of center and also at 90 degrees. It came to 12” x 15”. I cut a shallow kerf cut in the sled and them drilled a hole up through the kerf and installed 1/8” pin. I drilled a 1/8” hole in the center of v block and aligned that hole with the hole in the sled and that became my pivot point for locating the V block at all angles. The locations of the brass rings and T nuts in the sled were transferred from the V block for perfect alignment in all positions. Then I made the brass locator pins and thumbscrews for locating and holding the V block in position.

I made an end stop for the V block that is just clamped in position.

The way I use it is to determine the center of the X spline and set the stop block that distance from the center line. Then I cut one side of the X in the part, take it off and make and finish the spline in it. Without moving the end stop, I flip the position of the V block to 30 degrees on the other side of center and load the part in and take another cut through the part. This cuts the first one in half and the second spline is actually the one doing the holding. The first one is just for looks. They are both cut through the same center that way. No chance of mis-alignment if the stop block is not moved.

The last shot shows the final X spline in the project I’m working on!

All parts are made from Maple plywood and it ins finished.

Cheers, Jim

-- Jim Jakosh.....Practical Wood Products...........Learn something new every day!! Variety is the Spice of Life!!

I have that model saw and love it but your idea to just use the sides for your jig has so much potential .There are aftermarket miter slots you can add but then there can be alignment issues .Looks like I will be keeping it . ps If you need a belt for it let me know .